a) How do we best implement a systems perspective/approach?
- much diversity and perception on what a systems approach is - need for detailed and high quality data, to define a system [quantitative and qualitative]; farmer behavior data, component data and integration - Uses of data: to help generate farm typologies; for baselines; process of systems evolution (monitoring systems); to inform visioning = where do we want to go?
A systems approach is necessary to
Better understand context and better adopt component
Capitalize on synergies of integration (1+1=3; 2+2=10)
What needs to be defined to implement effectively?
Potential for/nature of integration
Scales: spatial and temporal scales, disciplines in teams and leaders; boundaries of the systems (not static, not homogeneous);
Drivers: demand, multiple constraints and interactions (wider contexts), importance of value chains as drivers of real decision making (not just a paradigm)
Broaden scope for candidate selection - tap into indigenous knowledge and practices and combine with tech inputs
Are we studying them, or improving them?
Current concept note is strong on multiple component activities but less on integrated / systems approach.
b) Where should this project be best positioned on a research-development continuum?
- What is the nature of the research that will be done?
- Not about developing new technologies but about looking at combinations of technologies and how they find their way into smallholder practice-
- Will need to be demand rather than supply driven
- Need to leverage large development projects to achieve impact at scale
- Need to co-locate research activities with development projects
- Need to connect more effectively with development projects to make sure research responds to development needs
- More connections with private sector needed
- Research will be embedded among smallholder farmers but lessons will be useful for development actors
- Need to think carefully about impact pathway to achieve high level indicators.
c) What are the most appropriate scales for this project to focus its research?
- av farm holding is 2ha or less
- small holder 'farms'
- technologies are not 'scale neutral' (and e.g. adoption of a technology at landscape level affects neighbours)
- we need a variety of scales; heterogeneity --> determines fit for yield + sustainability technology
- fit of technologies according to scale is important
- need future orientation .. what does it look like, in relation to scale (and towards larger scales)
- where does decision making occur? among farmers, classes of farmers; farmers as co-learners
- change occurs most effectively at community level: access to input/output market, extensions
- systems suggest scales: we need farm, community and landscape levels
- need to focus on community, as they are more stable, over time
- need to focus at household level, around how decisions are made by households
- landscape scale, esp in relation to sustainable and efficient management of natural resources by smallholder farmers
- livestock forces us to think, probably, larger scale (lang reg., pasture, collective management of livestock)...
- importance of gender in decision-making
- as one moves away from input+output markets, sustainable strategies include larger farm scale or organisation of farmers
- hypothesis: farm size heterogeneity may be beneficial (synergies) - access input suppliers and access to output markets
d) what criteria should we use to select sites? - biophysical info (elevation, rainfall [i.e. humidity], soil type) - access to markets / access by research -> research costs and efficiency - climate change and yield resilience - farm size (role of farming in livelihoods?) - nutrition problems/prevalence and consumption preferences - land tenure and access - access to land and water resources
- gender roles and specific outcomes /system components (large/small animals and commercialisation, differences between men and women)
- national priorities
- storing and processing infrastructure
- mechanization potential
- strength of farming organizations
- private sector engagement
- strength of farming organizations
- link to existing/other projects/opportunities
- oxenisation
- location of research stations Early win sites: Tanzania:
- Morogoro/Arusha (3 sites with ???. horticulture and seed systems)
- Dodoma (-> Manyara) Kongwa / Kibaigwa market
- Southern Highlands (SAGCOT): Djombe (dairy, school fielding, oxenisation)
The SIMLESA sites (maize, beans, pigeon pea, sorghum) / livestock with high feed needs and water harvesting opportunities / maize beans in Vyole station. Malawi: Northern + Central (high hunger zones, strong uptake) Zambia: Eastern Zambia (Zimlesa) / Chipata.
f) What does it mean to integrate research components?
- many component examples
- combining components to address particular goal in a systems perspective
- finding synergies and complementarities / tradeoffs
- horizontal or vertical ...
- inter-dependence
- space or time integration
- need to understand the complexities
Sustainable intensification of cereal-based farming systems in Eastern and Southern Africa
Project Inception Workshop
6-9 February 2012, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
PROJECT DESIGN WORLD CAFE
Questioning, validating, enriching key design elements of the project. Building on some of the ideas presented by Gerry earlier.
a) How do we best implement a systems perspective/approach?
- much diversity and perception on what a systems approach is
- need for detailed and high quality data, to define a system [quantitative and qualitative]; farmer behavior data, component data and integration
- Uses of data: to help generate farm typologies; for baselines; process of systems evolution (monitoring systems); to inform visioning = where do we want to go?
b) Where should this project be best positioned on a research-development continuum?
- What is the nature of the research that will be done?
- Not about developing new technologies but about looking at combinations of technologies and how they find their way into smallholder practice-
- Will need to be demand rather than supply driven
- Need to leverage large development projects to achieve impact at scale
- Need to co-locate research activities with development projects
- Need to connect more effectively with development projects to make sure research responds to development needs
- More connections with private sector needed
- Research will be embedded among smallholder farmers but lessons will be useful for development actors
- Need to think carefully about impact pathway to achieve high level indicators.
c) What are the most appropriate scales for this project to focus its research?
- av farm holding is 2ha or less
- small holder 'farms'
- technologies are not 'scale neutral' (and e.g. adoption of a technology at landscape level affects neighbours)
- we need a variety of scales; heterogeneity --> determines fit for yield + sustainability technology
- fit of technologies according to scale is important
- need future orientation .. what does it look like, in relation to scale (and towards larger scales)
- where does decision making occur? among farmers, classes of farmers; farmers as co-learners
- change occurs most effectively at community level: access to input/output market, extensions
- systems suggest scales: we need farm, community and landscape levels
- need to focus on community, as they are more stable, over time
- need to focus at household level, around how decisions are made by households
- landscape scale, esp in relation to sustainable and efficient management of natural resources by smallholder farmers
- livestock forces us to think, probably, larger scale (lang reg., pasture, collective management of livestock)...
- importance of gender in decision-making
- as one moves away from input+output markets, sustainable strategies include larger farm scale or organisation of farmers
- hypothesis: farm size heterogeneity may be beneficial (synergies) - access input suppliers and access to output markets
d) what criteria should we use to select sites?
- biophysical info (elevation, rainfall [i.e. humidity], soil type)
- access to markets / access by research -> research costs and efficiency
- climate change and yield resilience
- farm size (role of farming in livelihoods?)
- nutrition problems/prevalence and consumption preferences
- land tenure and access
- access to land and water resources
- gender roles and specific outcomes /system components (large/small animals and commercialisation, differences between men and women)
- national priorities
- storing and processing infrastructure
- mechanization potential
- strength of farming organizations
- private sector engagement
- strength of farming organizations
- link to existing/other projects/opportunities
- oxenisation
- location of research stations
Early win sites:
Tanzania:
- Morogoro/Arusha (3 sites with ???. horticulture and seed systems)
- Dodoma (-> Manyara) Kongwa / Kibaigwa market
- Southern Highlands (SAGCOT): Djombe (dairy, school fielding, oxenisation)
The SIMLESA sites (maize, beans, pigeon pea, sorghum) / livestock with high feed needs and water harvesting opportunities / maize beans in Vyole station.
Malawi: Northern + Central (high hunger zones, strong uptake)
Zambia: Eastern Zambia (Zimlesa) / Chipata.
f) What does it mean to integrate research components?
- many component examples
- combining components to address particular goal in a systems perspective
- finding synergies and complementarities / tradeoffs
- horizontal or vertical ...
- inter-dependence
- space or time integration
- need to understand the complexities